Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Tradewind Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Amarillo, Texas 79109
Saturday, January 3, 2004 14:45 CST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
Shortly after take off, the 1,142-hour pilot reported over the radio that he was having "chest pains" and wanted to return to the "ground." A witness observed the airplane as it headed south at an approximate altitude of 1,200 to 1,500 feet above ground level. He then saw the airplane make a descending, 180-degree right turn. The airplane continued to descend (approximately 150-200 feet per minute) until it disappeared from his view. The witness added that the engine was "loud" and operating at full power during the turn. The landing gear was up, and there were no "apparent difficulties" with the airplane. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies. A review of the pilot's personal medical records revealed that in the months preceding the accident the pilot had been found to have high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol, all of which are risk factors for coronary heart disease.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's incapacitation due to chest pains, resulting in a loss of control.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 1/3/2004 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1445 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Standard Time |
| Event City | Amarillo |
| Event State | TEXAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 79109 |
| Event Date Year | 2004 |
| Event Date Month | 1 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 351006N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1015000W |
| Event Location Airport | Tradewind Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | TDW |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1453 Central Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | AMA |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 3607 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 11 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -7 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 60 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 7 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.74 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 15884 |
| NTSB Notification Source | Southwest Region |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jan 3 2004 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1515 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 29 2004 7:30AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Lubbock, Texas |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N6834N |
| NTSB Number | FTW04FA055 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | Ground |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Mooney |
| Aircraft Model | M20C |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 680187 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2575 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jan 24 2003 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | -- |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Edmond, Deaton, & Stephens Insurance Co. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | P.O. Box 808 |
| Aircraft Owner City | Canyon |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 79015 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Michael Stephens |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | 1000 4th Ave |
| Operator City | Canyon |
| Operator State | TX |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 79015 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | -- |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | -- |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | -- |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | TDW |
| Departure City | Amarillo |
| Departure State | TX |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1441 |
| Departure Time Zone | CST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | 2F5 |
| Destination City | Lamesa |
| Destination State | TX |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Cruise |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | May 25 2004 7:02PM |
| User who most recently changed record | CASH |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | NA |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |